Adjustable chute.



No. 651,433. Patented lune |2,|9oo.

. J. CAMPBELL.-

.ADJUSTABLE CHUTE.

(Application led Mar. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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J. CAMPBELL.

ADJUSTABLE CHUTE.

(Application med mr. 21, 189s.)

(N0 MUGL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

JEREMIAII CAMPBELL, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE CHUTEL SPECIFICATION lforming part of Letters Patent No. 651,433, dated June 12, 1900.

Application filed March 2l, 1898 Be it known that I, JEREMIAH CAMPBELL, a citizen oit the United States, residing at Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Chutes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to chutes especially adapted for transferring coal or other substances from a given level toa lower variable level.

In the drawings, Figure lisa View in vertical central section of a chute containingthe features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof, showing also a portion of the trestle for supporting it. Fig. 3 is a View in plan, enlarged, of gearing for operating the chute.

In loading lighters or vessels from cars, trams,or other carrying devices it is customary to employ a hopper supported upon a trestle or other supporting device at such a height in respect to the lighter or vessel that thecoal or other substance delivered to the hopper may by gravity feed through a chute into the hold of the said lighter or vessel. Said chutes, however, have had no desirable provision vwhereby the force with which the coal descends may be modified before leaving the end of the chute and whereby also the end of the chute may be adjustable up or down to the various heights at which it is desirable to deliver the coal as the lighter lifts or falls with the tide or falls as it is being loaded and whereby the coal may be delivered to the hold of-a lighter or vessel gently without any great fall and consequent breakage; and my invention relates to a chute which isso constructed that the force of the flow of the coal through its lower part may be calculated and governed, and it is also so constructed that its outlet may be raised or lowered to any desired position.

Referringk to the drawings, H is a receiving-hopper, at the mouth of which is hinged at h the chute, which is composed of two sections or parts-namely, the upper section A and the lower section B. The lower section B supports the lower end of the upper section,

Serial No. 674,585. (No model which enters it and is itself vertically :movable as a whole and is also movable upon an arc of which its upper end is a center, whereby its inclination may be varied to any extent. These movements or adjustments of the lower lsection B of the chute are represented as obtained by providing the lower section at its .upper end with pins pp', which project from fin which the pins pp move, and consequently guide the movement of the upper end of vsaid lower section. l

I have shown the lower end of the upper section and the upper end of the lower section as connected by a slotted connection'- that is to say, the lower section is provided l with laterally-projecting pins a., which are fitted into and slide in slots ct in the side walls of the lower section B, these slots being of sufficient length to provide for all the ordinary conditions under which such a chute may be used. This is desirable in order that the two sections may be kept in close contact at the point where the upper section empties into the lower; but it is not necessary, for under ordinary circumstances the lower end of the upper section will naturally rest in the lower section.

The section B of the chute is suspended by means of the two lines or tackles b b-, the first of which extends from the upper end of said section B to the winding-drum CZ or other actuating or holding device and the second of Which extends from the lower end of the said section to the winding-drum d or other actuating or holding device. I prefer that each line be made fast to the trestle and extend through a sheave or pulley attached to the said section. The winding-drums shown are driven through their respective gears d2 d3 by the pinions e c. These pinions turn withthe shaft f, but are free to slide along the shaft, so that they may be thrown into or out of gear with the gears of the winding-drums In this way either or both of the drums may be caused to rotate by means of the shaft s. The pawls ICO w w' hold their respective drums against ro tation when it is so desired.

in which the sections A and B may be placed,

and held by the lines or tackles b b.

L, Fig. l, represents a lighter in ahigh position in respect to thehopper, andL alighter in dotted outline in a lower position in respect thereto, andthe chute is represented in full lines in one position and by dotted outline in two other positions.

It is desirable in some instances to raise or lower both ends of the chute-section B together, in which event the shaft S is operated to turn both winding-drums. In other instances it is desirable to elevate or depress only one end of the said chute-section B, in which event its appropriate drum or tackle operating device is employed.

The shaft S may be operated by hand or power and in any desired way. In light chutes the tackles may be operated directly by hand and secured to cleats.

It is not necessary that the guides for guiding the inner end of the chute-section B be vertical, as they may be inclined in either direction or curved, the shape of the guides depending upon the various positions which it is desired that the upper or lower end of said chute-section shall occupy at various times.

It will be seen that the lower section of the chute B and the lower end of the upper section A are entirely supported by means of 'the tackles and that each of the tackles is capable of independent operation, so that not only may the angle of the entire chute in relation to the hopper be changed, but the angle of the lower section in relation to the upper may also be changed. This insures that the chute shall always have provision for the gentle flow of the coal or other substance :from itslower end. This result is arrived at by providing both sections of the chute with a relatively-slight inclination or when the upper section of the chute is sharply inclined by providing the lower section with less inclination in respect to it, whereby the feed of the coal or other material passing through it is caused to be checked.

By closing and holding closed the damper or valve D at the lower end of the chute-section B the inclination or adjustment of the said chute may take place without stopping the iow of the coal or material from the hopper.

In some instances the guides for providing or regulating the degree of endwise Inovement of the lower chute-section may be dispensed with, in which event to prevent endwise movement of the said lower section it will be hinged to the upper section at or near its lower end. The tackles or lines for adjusting and suspending the chute will act with this form of construction substantially as they will act with the construction employing the guides.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. The combination'of a receiving-hopper and a sectional chute, the upper end of which is hinged to said hopper, and the lower end of the upper section of which rests in the upper end of the lower section and is movable therein lengthwise, and means for changing the elevation of said chute, said means consisting of suitable tackle connected to the upper and lower ends of said lower section, whereby the change in the position of said lower section changes the relations of said sections to each other, and to the point of delivery therefrom, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a receiving-hopper and a sectional chute, the upper end of which is hinged to said hopper, the lower end of the upper section resting in the upper end of the lower sect-ion, and means whereby the upper end of said lower section is pivoted in a vertical slide, and means whereby the ver-l tical location of said pivot is adj usted and the position of the lower end of said section is changed with relation to said pivot, as set forth.

3. The adjust-able chute above described composed of sections, the upper end of the upper section being mounted on a fixed pivot, its lower end resting in the upper end of the adjacent section and adapted to be freely moved longitudinally therein, in combination with means adapted to adjust the length of said chute and its relation to the desired point of delivery, said means consisting of a hoisting-tackle applied to said lower section, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a sectional chute, a hopper, an upper section hinged thereto and a lower section, the upper end of which receives the lower end of said lower section, a slotted connection between said upper and lower sections of substantially the kind described, whereby said sections are pivotally connected, means substantially as described whereby said chute is adjusted as to length and height with relation to the point of delivery.

5. A sectional chute consisting of an upper and lower section, the lower end of the upper section resting in the upper end of the lower section, means for supporting the upper end of the upper section and means applied to said lower section whereby the relations of said chute to the point of delivery may be adjusted, as set forth.

J EREMIAH CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DoLAN.

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